DEFIANCE is on the cards if fox hunting is banned by law, say hunt supporters across North Yorkshire and the North-East.

While many said they were reluctant to break the law, they planned to prepare for the 2005 season in the same way as this year.

Angie Vaux, N-E regional chairman of the Countryside Alliance and former joint master of the Zetland Hunt, said she had not hunted for three seasons but would consider starting again to defy a ban.

"I don't really know how I would react to a ban but I would very seriously consider starting hunting again," said Mrs Vaux, of Barton, between Richmond and Darlington. "I am quite certain that many people would defy a ban. I am not a lawbreaker and we are not giving up yet, as we have a legal process to go through, but we do get very depressed about the situation."

She believed a ban would lead to more people using guns in the countryside and the likelihood of foxes being injured but not killed outright when shot. "Hounds kill quite a lot of foxes that have been wounded or injured in some way," she said.

Mrs Vaux spoke out against the use of violence by hunt supporters and hoped their cause would not be infiltrated by extremists. "People are very angry but I would be surprised if they went as far as some other extremist groups."

Keith Balbach, joint master of the Hurworth Hunt, based at West Rounton, near Northallerton, was concerned that a repeat of violence witnessed at last week's protest in London would damage the cause.

"I can see how people are getting so desperate and frustrated now because the Government isn't listening to them. But I do not think that violence will do anyone any good."

Sheila Hollins, secretary of the Bedale Hunt, said autumn hunting had started as normal and members hoped the new season would not be the last. "We live in hope and at the present time we continue as normal," she said.

Hunts believe a ban would be impossible to enforce, particularly as police resources are already stretched in rural areas. Mrs Hollins said 13 packs hunted in North Yorkshire on a Saturday alone.

She also questioned the seriousness of reports that police might set up CCTV cameras on hedgerows, fences and trees along known hunting routes to catch those who continued to hunt in the event of a ban.

The Country Land and Business Association has written to Home Secretary, David Blunkett, and Alun Michael, rural affairs minister, about the reported security camera plans.

CLA president, Mark Hudson, said: "I can't believe it's seriously being considered. We're told that enforcing a ban could cost in excess of £30m and would divert resources from front-line policing. Is a hunting ban so important that front-line policing would be diverted to stick a CCTV camera on every tree in the countryside?"

He said such a proliferation of camera poles would contribute to "countryside clutter" and, while police could obtain licenses from highway authorities for cameras on roads, no such rights existed on private land.

John Jackson, Countryside Alliance national chairman, condemned as foolish Mr Michael's challenge to rural campaigners to defeat the Government at the ballot box. "I expect that rural people will take up his challenge with vigour and enthusiasm," he said. "I also expect that lawful non-co-operation with the Government will spread quickly and become widespread."

Douglas Batchelor, of the League Against Cruel Sports, said the pledge of hunt supporters to continue their activities in the event of a ban showed they had no respect for the democratic process.

"The pro-hunt lobby are clearly willing to resort to any tactics to gain publicity so that they can carry on killing for fun," he said. "Hunt supporters have been using threats and intimidation for decades to silence anyone who dares to object to their cruel sport. Their promises to create havoc in the event of a ban are unsurprising. At least once hunting is banned, all those whose lives are made a misery by hunts will have the law on their side.